Combined chair and box



(No Model.)

H. H. BRUCE. COMBINED CHAIR Am) BOX.

No. 571,335. Patented N0v. 17, 1896 UNITED TATES l HOLIDAY H. BRUCE, OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINED CHAIR AND Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,335, dated November 17, 1896. Application filed April 1'7, 1896. Serial No, 587,933. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOLIDAY H. BRUCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at J efferson City, in the county of Cole and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Chair and Box; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined boxes and chairs; and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple and cheap construction that can be readily converted from a box into a chair or from a chair into a box, as may be desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which-' Figure 1 is a view of the device forming a box. Fig. 2 is aview showing the same when converted into a chair.

Like letters of reference are employed to indicate like parts in the two views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A A designate the bottom of the box, the two parts being joined at their adjacent ends by suitable hinges a, so that the two parts may be extended in the same horizontal plane, or the one turned up at an angle to the other when desired. Each of these two portions of the bottom has secured to its opposite edges about midway of its length the curved pieces 13, which constitute the arms of the chair when the one part of the bottom is turned up on its hinge to extend at an angle thereof, and these pieces are provided, one on each side, with a hook O, pivotally mounted thereon, adapted to e11- gage a staple or analogous means 0 on the adjacent piece B, so that when the device is converted into a chair these hooks will serve to hold the two adjacent pieces B Bin the position shown, and also hold the part A of the bottom in its inclined position, to constitute the back of the chair.

To each end of the bottom-that is, to the outer end of the twopieces A A thereofthere are hinged by suitable hinge-s d the pieces D D, which constitute the ends of the box. The sides of the box are formed by the pieces E E, which are hinged to opposite edges of the portion A of the bottom of the box, and these pieces E are curved upon their outer edges in the direction of their length, as seen at E to constitute rockers, and these pieces E are cut away, as ate, to receive the pieces B, which are secured to the two portions of the bottom.

In practice the pieces E E are turned up on their hinges, so as to be in line with and receive the portions B B 011 the bottom. The end pieces are turned on their hinges, so as to extend at right angles from the bottom, and the parts are thus held by means of hooks G, secured to the outer faces of the ends and adapted to engage staples or analogous means h on the outer ends of the sides E E, as shown, thus firmly binding the ends and sides together. A suitable cover or lid II may be provided, which is supported upon the ends and fits between the opposite curved portions of the sides, which constitute the rockers when the box is converted into a chair, which is done by disengaging the hooks G from their staples, turning the sides E on their hinges, so that they extend in the opposite direction from that which they assume when the device is made into box form. The one end is turned down against the ends of the sides which now constitute the rockers and is there held by engaging the hooks G in staples or analogous means h on the inner sides of the rockers, so that the end serves to brace the rockers and hold them at the proper distance apart. The part A of the bottom is then turned up on its hinges, so as to bring the adjacent ends of the pieces B together, when the hooks O are engaged in the staples O and the parts thus held in the position seen in Fig. 2. The other piece D can be arranged at any desired angle and may, if desired, form an extension of the back, which the part A of the bottom constitutes when the device is converted into a chair. The

portion A of the bottom is provided with the opening I, which may be closed by the piece I, hinged to one end thereof. These openings are primarily for the sake of looks, so as to give to the back of the chair a well-balanced or solid appearance.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In cases where the box is so proportioned that when converted into a chair the back would be too low to be comfortable it could be extended with the end of the box by turning the hinged pieces back and up on their hinges and fastening to the end of the box or upper back to hold it in position at any desired angle.

\Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. In a combined chair and box, a bottom in two parts, hinged together, and having curved pieces on its edges, sides hinged to said bottom and having openings to receive the curved pieces, and hinged ends mounted at opposite ends of the bottom, substantially as specified.

2. In a combined chair and box, a bottom. in two parts, hinged together, and having curved pieces on its edges, sides hinged to said bottom, and having openings to receive the curved pieces, and hinged ends mounted at opposite ends of the bottom, and hooks on the end pieces and on the curved pieces at opposite sides of the bottom, substantially as specified.

In a combined chair and box, a bottom in two parts, hinged together, and having curved pieces on its edges, sides hinged to said bottom and having openings to receive the curved pieces, and hinged ends mounted at opposite ends of the bottom, and hooks on the end pieces and on the curved pieces at opposite sides of the bottom, the side pieces having openings to receive said curved pieces when the device is formed into a box, substantially as specified.

4-. In a combined chair and box, a bottom in two parts, hinged together, and having curved pieces on its edges, sides hinged to said bottom and having openings to receive the curved pieces, and hinged ends mounted at opposite ends of the bottom, and hooks on the end pieces and on the curved pieces at opposite sides of the bottom, one portion of the bottom being formed with openings and hinged strips, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOLIDAY H. BRUCE.

\Vitnesses:

M. O. FAUs'r, T. M. WINsroN. 

